【Super Bowl LX】 "Not as good as Whitney..." Charlie Puth breaks stereotypes with 'D Major' national anthem performance

"I can't follow in the legendary footsteps of Whitney Houston, but I wanted to prove myself in my own way." Pop star Charlie Puth (34) washed away the skepticism directed at him and filled the Super Bowl stage with emotion.

According to reports from CBS News and other outlets on the 9th (Korean time), Charlie Puth performed the US national anthem 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at the pregame event for Super Bowl LX (60) between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on the 8th.

◆ The 'Magic of D Major' that turned concerns into cheers

Before the performance, some fans expressed doubts on social media, saying, "Compared to Whitney Houston's era, the level has dropped," and "Can Charlie Puth deliver that kind of vocal performance?" In response, Puth confidently commented, "I don't claim to be as great as Whitney. But I prepared a really special arrangement in D Major."

His words were not empty. Dressed in a brown leather jacket and tie, Puth took the stage and played the keyboard, skillfully navigating the extreme vocal range from low D to high A. The grand pop-style arrangement created by the pure white choir and band, combined with the lyrics "the rocket's red glare," produced a spectacular scene with bursts of fireworks.

◆ The demo that captivated Jay-Z

This performance was the result of Puth's thorough preparation and effort. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he revealed, "I wanted to perform on the Super Bowl stage so badly that I sent a recorded demo to Roc Nation co-founder Jay Brown," adding, "Both Jay-Z and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell liked the demo, which made it happen."

Inspired by the performances of the late Whitney Houston and Chris Stapleton, both from New Jersey, Charlie Puth stated, "I tackled one of the hardest songs to sing in my own way," completing a career-high performance.